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Estimation of Anaerobic Biodegradation Rate Constants at MGP Sites
Author(s) -
Lewandowski Gordon,
Mortimer Georgene
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
groundwater
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.84
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1745-6584
pISSN - 0017-467X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-6584.2004.tb02690.x
Subject(s) - biodegradation , plume , reaction rate constant , environmental chemistry , chemistry , sulfate , naphthalene , electron acceptor , benzene , anaerobic exercise , environmental science , contamination , environmental engineering , ecology , photochemistry , kinetics , thermodynamics , organic chemistry , physiology , physics , quantum mechanics , biology
Field data at six former manufactured gas plant sites in New Jersey were used to estimate the biodegradation rate constants for the anaerobic processes naturally occurring within the ground water contaminant plumes (primarily iron and sulfate reduction). Those rate constants turned out to be about an order of magnitude smaller than values reported for the same contaminants (primarily benzene and naphthalene) at fuel sites. At four of the sites, there appeared to be sufficient electron acceptor present to eventually degrade the contaminants in the plume. However, the presence of nonaqueous phase liquids tends to offset that capacity by continuing to act as a source of contaminants that can dissolve in the ground water.